VIDEO: Phil Kessel ends drought with game-winning goal

The drought is over. Phil Kessel, the sometimes cartoonishly-maligned winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, finally scored his first goal of the season. And it came at the best possible time.

With the Leafs and Winnipeg Jets knotted at 2-2, Kessel trailed Tyler Bozak into the Winnipeg zone with speed. After Bozak dropped a pass back, Kessel unleashed an absolute laser past Ondrej Pavelec.

It was vintage Kessel, showing the release that has made him one of the game's elite goal scorers. It looked like Kessel's celebration was more of relief than excitement. And who could really blame him?